Page:Vizagapatam.djvu/130

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VIZAGAPATAM

This custom, of góti is firmly established, and in a recent case an elder brother claimed to be able to pledge for his own debts the services of his younger brother and even those of the latter's wife. Debts due by persons of respectability are often collected by the Sondis by an exasperating method which has led to at least one case of homicide. They send Ghásis, who are one of the lowest of all castes and contact with whom is utter defilement entailing severe caste penalties, to haunt the house of the debtor who will not pay, insult and annoy him and his family, and threaten to drag him forcibly before the Sondi.


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